Perennial Cafe on Franklin Street reopens its doors after a year-long temporary closing

Perennial Cafe, a coffee shop located at 401 W. Franklin St., reopened to eager customers on May 28. The cafe had temporarily closed its doors last year due to the pandemic, and customers have missed its unique atmosphere and artisanal beverages ever since.

The Pizza Press on Franklin rebrands as /sôst/ in move away from national chain

The name /sôst/ is the phonetic spelling of the word "sauced." This change will bring The Pizza Press, a popular Franklin Street make-your-own-pizza joint since 2018, from being part of a national chain to becoming a local restaurant.

Save the Music profiles: these local musicians are creating their own sounds

The Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership launched “Save The Music” last year, and is giving local artists a platform to perform outside of businesses on Franklin Street. This past week, Pajama Day, Wake Moody and Dan Kelo all performed for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community, showcasing their unique and diverse styles of music. 

Perennial Cafe to bloom again on Franklin Street in time for spring reopening

Perennial Cafe, a coffee shop on West Franklin Street that temporarily closed due to COVID-19, will be reopening in mid-May. 

Restaurants ask for permanent sidewalk space as COVID-19 regulations loosen

Although social distancing and capacity guidelines are being lifted, businesses on Franklin Street have advocated for some of these new policies to stick around, like allowances for outdoor seating space. For the past year, local restaurants have benefitted from curbside parking spots, extended sidewalks, outdoor seating and other temporary allowances approved by the Town of Chapel Hill. Robert Poitras, the owner of Carolina Brewery on West Franklin, has advocated to make patio extensions on West Franklin Street — like the one at Carolina Brewery — permanent to both the Town and the NCDOT.

All up in your business: Mexican restaurant Que Chula approaches one-year anniversary

Que Chula Craft Tacos & Tequila Bar, a Mexican restaurant that offers authentic and Tex-Mex style dishes such as street tacos, burritos, chimichangas and quesadillas, is approaching its one-year anniversary on Franklin Street.

At Vimala's Curryblossom Café, Indian and Southern cuisines unite for social activism

Restaurant owner Vimala Rajendran has transformed her underground culinary enterprise into a Chapel Hill staple: Vimala’s Curryblossom Café, which offers both Indian and Southern cuisines.

Tucker Frey, reported to harass women on Franklin Street, charged with trespassing

Frey was arrested Monday and charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor for trespassing. Chapel Hill has received 46 reports regarding Frey’s behavior since August 2020, and seven emails in the past week alone, Attorney Maren Hardin said during Frey's first appearance in court on Wednesday. 

LISTEN: Reflecting on both Franklin Street rushes and preview of March Madness

LISTEN: UNC men’s basketball beats Duke for the second time this season

Town and University look to avoid Franklin Street rush after Saturday's UNC-Duke game

In an email, Victoria Hudson, the Orange County Director of Environmental Health, said she was unaware of any community spread impacts from the February rush — however, she wrote, this is not an excuse to lose vigilance. “Community transmission and vaccination trends are moving in the right direction,” Hudson wrote. “The recent Executive Order eased some restrictions on businesses. We have to stay vigilant to eliminate any actions that could lead to negative impacts at this time.”

University plans for potential Franklin Street rush as second UNC-Duke game approaches

“The University is working closely with the Town of Chapel Hill and the Orange County Health Department on communications to the campus community encouraging everyone to watch and celebrate a possible win safely,” University spokesperson Jeni Cook said in a statement. 

Newly-opened Jed’s Kitchen offers halal Moroccan food to the Chapel Hill community

Jed's Kitchen recently opened on Franklin Street and offers a variety of classic Moroccan dishes. The restaurant aims to be inclusive offering a menu that adheres to the dietary rules of the Qur'an.

Vinyl art installations enliven downtown Chapel Hill businesses

For artist Loren Pease, the program is a way to unite the community and encourage residents to support local businesses.  “Considering the times we’re in, I figured it was a good, inclusive term to use, so I designed the art around the term ‘Stronger Together'," Pease said.